Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B13/00—Spanners; Wrenches
  • B25B13/48—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes
  • B25B13/50—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes
  • B25B13/5008—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes for operating on pipes or cylindrical objects
  • B25B13/5016—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes for operating on pipes or cylindrical objects by externally gripping the pipe
  • B25B13/5025—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes for operating on pipes or cylindrical objects by externally gripping the pipe using a pipe wrench type tool
  • B25B13/5041—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes for operating on pipes or cylindrical objects by externally gripping the pipe using a pipe wrench type tool with movable or adjustable jaws
  • B25B13/5058—Linearly moving or adjustable, e.g. with an additional small tilting or rocking movement
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B13/00—Spanners; Wrenches
  • B25B13/48—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes
  • B25B13/50—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B23/00—Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B7/00—Pliers; Other hand-held gripping tools with jaws on pivoted limbs; Details applicable generally to pivoted-limb hand tools
  • B25B7/06—Joints
  • B25B7/10—Joints with adjustable fulcrum
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B7/00—Pliers; Other hand-held gripping tools with jaws on pivoted limbs; Details applicable generally to pivoted-limb hand tools
  • B25B7/02—Jaws

Definitions

• Example embodiments generally relate to hand tools and, in particular, relate to a pipe wrench with improved capability to engage pipe or other media at other than a typical 90 degree angle.
• Hand tools are commonly used across all aspects of industry and in the homes of consumers. Hand tools are employed for multiple applications including, for example, tightening, component joining, and/or the like. For some plumbing applications, and other pipe joining applications, a pipe wrench with one movable and one fixed jaw may be preferred. These familiar hand tools typically place the moveable jaw at a distal end of the pipe wrench and allow the span of the pipe wrench (i.e., the space between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw) to be adjusted by moving the movable jaw farther away from the fixed jaw or closer to the fixed jaw.
• Each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw typically have an array of teeth that lie in a plane with each other.
• the array of teeth in the fixed jaw is generally in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane in which the array of teeth in the movable jaw over the range of spans that are achievable for the pipe wrench.
• the profile of each array of teeth is generally consistent over the longitudinal length of each array. In other words, the length, width and height of the ridges that form the teeth are generally of the same size in order to ensure that the arrays stay substantially parallel to each other over the range of spans.
• This arrangement works quite well for enabling the pipe wrench to grip or get a bite on pipes that extend between the jaws at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the pipe wrench, while ensuring that many different pipe sizes can be gripped as the span of the wrench is adjusted.
• this arrangement is not very useful for situations where limited access to the pipe (e.g., due to working in low access areas or where obstructions to natural turning of the wrench prevent gripping the pipe at a 90 degree angle relative to the longitudinal length of the pipe wrench). These situations may be considered to be instances in which it is desirable to get a“side bite” on the pipe instead of the normal 90 degree bite or grip. In these side bite scenarios, the teeth will often slide off the pipe or gall the surface of the pipe.
• a hand tool may be provided.
• the hand tool may include a handle section, a working end operably coupled to the handle section, and a jaw assembly disposed at the working end.
• the jaw assembly may include a movable jaw and a fixed jaw.
• a span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw may be adjustable.
• Each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw may include an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other.
• the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw may include a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth. The first depth may be less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width.
• a jaw assembly for a hand tool may be provided.
• the jaw assembly may include a movable jaw and a fixed jaw.
• a span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw may be adjustable.
• Each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw may include an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other.
• the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw may include a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth. The first depth may be less than the second depth and the first width may be less than the second width.
• FIG 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hand tool with an improved jaw assembly according to an example embodiment
• FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the hand tool of FIG. 1 in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 3 is side view of the jaw assembly to show a teeth profile of each of a movable jaw and a fixed jaw of the jaw assembly in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 4 a perspective view of the fixed jaw of the hand tool of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the movable jaw of the hand tool of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an array of teeth of one of the jaws in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 7 is a top view of the hand tool with a side bite on media according to an example embodiment
• FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of the hand tool with the side bite on the media according to an example embodiment
• FIG. 9 illustrates a left side, perspective view of the hand tool with the side bite on the media according to an example embodiment
• FIG. 10 illustrates a right side, perspective view of the hand tool with the side bite on the media according to an example embodiment
• FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable grip pliers with straight jaws in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 12A illustrates a perspective view of a top jaw of the pliers of FIG. 11 in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 12B illustrates a perspective view of a bottom jaw of the pliers of FIG. 11 in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable grip pliers with a V-shaped recessed portion in the jaws in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 14A illustrates a perspective view of a top jaw of the pliers of FIG. 13 in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 14B illustrates a perspective view of a bottom jaw of the pliers of FIG. 13 in accordance with an example embodiment.
• some example embodiments may relate to the provision of a hand tool such as a pipe wrench or pliers with an improved design that enables the pipe wrench to effectively grasp media that is not substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hand tool.
• a hand tool such as a pipe wrench or pliers
• the grasping of media within the span of the pipe wrench where the media is not substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe wrench will be referred to as a“side bite” situation, or simply as“side bite.”
• FIGS. 1-6 show various views or portions of one example of a pipe wrench capable of grasping media in the side bite situation.
• FIGS. 7-10 further illustrate the pipe wrench actually having a side bite on a pipe. Meanwhile, FIGS.
• FIGS. 11-14 illustrate examples of hand tools other than pipe wrenches.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an adjustable grip pliers with straight jaws
• FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an adjustable grip pliers with a V-shaped recessed portion in the jaws.
• FIG. 12 is defined by FIGS. 12A and 12B
• FIG. 14 is defined by FIGS. 14A and 14B.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 each illustrate slightly different perspective views of a hand tool 100 (e.g., a pipe wrench) having a jaw assembly 110 of an example embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is side view of the jaw assembly 110 to show a teeth profile of each of a movable jaw 120 and a fixed jaw 130 of the jaw assembly 110.
• FIG. 4 a perspective view of the fixed jaw 130 of the hand tool 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the movable jaw 120 of the hand tool 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
• FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an array of teeth of one of the jaws.
• the hand tool 100 may include a working end 102 and a handle section 104.
• the working end 102 may include the jaw assembly 110.
• the jaw assembly may further include a top jaw (i.e., movable jaw 120) and a bottom jaw (i.e., fixed jaw 130).
• the handle section 104 of the hand tool 100 may be considered a proximal end of the hand tool 100 when grasped by a user.
• the working end 102 may be considered a distal end of the hand tool 100, again from the perspective of the user while grasping the hand tool 100.
• the handle section 104 may extend along a longitudinal axis 106 of the hand tool 100 and, in this example, the jaw assembly 110 may also be formed along the longitudinal axis 106 of the hand tool 100.
• the movable jaw 120 may be disposed at a distal end of the hand tool 100, and the fixed jaw 130 may be disposed proximate to a distal end of the handle section 104. More specifically, the movable jaw 120 may be disposed at a distal end of an extension arm 140 that is movable relative to a retention housing 150 formed at a distal end of the handle section 104, and proximate to the fixed jaw 130.
• the retention housing 150 may include an orifice through which a portion of the extension arm 140 may pass.
• the extension arm 140 may include threads 160 that engage an adjustment member 170 that is rotatably retained proximate to the retention housing 150.
• the adjustment member 170 may be an annular component including threads that are oriented inwardly toward an axis of the adjustment member 170.
• the threads of the adjustment member 170 may engage the threads 160 of the extension arm 140.
• the internal threads of the adjustment member 170 may interact with the threads 160 on the extension arm 140 to move the extension arm 182 in a respective one of the directions shown by double arrow 182. Accordingly, a span 190 defined between the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130 may be adjusted.
• the span 190 may be adjusted by rotating the adjustment member 170 to extend the extension arm 140 until the span 190 is larger than an external diameter of a pipe (or other media) that is to be engaged by the hand tool 100.
• the adjustment member 170 may then be rotated in the opposite direction to reduce the span 190 until the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130 engage opposite sides of the media. Teeth of the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130 may, in some cases, grasp or otherwise get a bite on the opposite sides of the media.
• the handle section 104 may then be pushed or pulled in the directions shown by double arrow 192 to pivot the hand tool 100 about pivot axis 195, which may be defined near the center of the span 190.
• the length of the handle section 104, and the distance from the fixed jaw 130 to the pivot axis 195 therefore substantially defines the length of the lever arm formed for operation of the hand tool 100 to turn the media that is placed within the span 190.
• each of the fixed jaw 130 and the movable jaw 120 may be defined, at least in part, by an array of teeth.
• the teeth may be formed as a series of ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other. Each tooth may therefore be a single ridge extending in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis 195.
• each of the ridges or teeth may be defined by a linearly extending apex and sidewalls that extend away from the apex in opposite directions. The sidewalls may have equal or slightly different slopes in some cases. For example, in the embodiment depicted in FIG.
• ridges on the movable jaw 120 may be formed to be substantially triangular in shape with slopes of each sidewall being substantially equal.
• ridges on the fixed jaw 130 may be slightly different in shape.
• the ridges on the fixed jaw 130 may have a higher slope on one side than the other, and in some cases, the sidewall with the lower slope may also have some slight curvature thereto, creating a curved saw tooth profile.
• some embodiments may mirror the teeth exactly, or nearly exactly instead of having this diversity of slopes on the sidewalls.
• an apex of all of the teeth of the movable jaw 120 may lie in a first plane 200 and an apex of all of the teeth of the fixed jaw may lie in a second plane 210.
• the first and second planes 200 and 210 which are each perpendicularly extending out of the page toward the viewer in FIG. 3, are substantially parallel to each other.
• the fixed jaw 130 and the movable jaw 120 can also effectively grasp media having opposing flat surfaces (e.g., a hex nut or a square nut).
• the teeth also enable the jaw assembly 110 to grasp or get a bite on media that is not flat (and is possibly round or even irregularly shaped).
• a full length of the apexes of several of the teeth will engage the outer diameter of the media to provide a good grip or bite on the media.
• at least a portion of the sidewalls of the ridges leading up to the apex may also engage the media along a length of the corresponding teeth.
• the media will have an axis that substantially aligns with the pivot axis 195.
• the media generally extends through the span 190 at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 106 of the hand tool 100.
• a side bite situation as shown in FIGS. 7-10
• the apexes of opposing extreme ends of some of the teeth would actually contact the media (i.e., not the full length of the apexes of the ridges). More specifically, the apexes of opposite longitudinal ends to two adjacent teeth would contact the media.
• example embodiments may equip the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130 with a set of teeth that is both wider and deeper than a majority of the teeth that form the array of teeth of each respective one of the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130.
• FIGS. 3-6 will now be referenced primarily to describe the structure of the arrays of teeth of each of the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130 of an example embodiment.
• each of the arrays of teach on the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130 may include at least a first set of teeth 220 and a second set of teeth 230, where the second set of teeth 230 is wider and deeper than the first set of teeth 220.
• Some example embodiments may further include a third set of teeth 240 that is even narrower than the first set of teeth 220, but otherwise generally shares the same depth as the first set of teeth 220.
• the first set of teeth 220 and the third set of teeth 240 may each have a depth (Dl) measured from an apex of each tooth to a valley between adjacent ridges or teeth of the corresponding set of teeth.
• the second set of teeth 230 has a depth (D2) that is deeper than the depth (Dl) of the first set of teeth 220 and the third set of teeth 240.
• the depth (D2) may be at least twice as large as the depth (Dl).
• the depth (D2) may be about three times as large as the depth (Dl).
• the valleys of the second set of teeth 230 extend substantially deeper than valleys of the first set of teeth 220 and the third set of teeth 240.
• the slopes of the sets of teeth on respective ones of the movable jaw 120 and the fixed jaw 130 may also be different. However, it is the depths and therefore the lengths of the sidewalls that are of greater interest for purposes of appreciating the improved functionality that is provided by this wider and deeper set of teeth that form the second set of teeth 230.
• the first set of teeth 220, the second set of teeth 230, and the third set of teeth 240 each have different widths.
• a width (W 1) of the first set of teeth 220 is larger than a width (W3) of the third set of teeth 240.
• a width (W2) of the second set of teeth 230 is larger than the width (Wl) of the first set of teeth 220 (and therefore also larger than the width (W3) of the third set of teeth 240).
• the widths (Wl, W2 and W3) of the first, second and third sets of teeth 220, 230 and 240 are defined by the respective lengths of the ridges that form each corresponding set of teeth.
• the first and third sets of teeth 220 and 240 may include some teeth or ridges that are formed consecutively or immediately adjacent to other teeth or ridges within the same respective set of teeth.
• some of the teeth of the first set of teeth 220 are immediately adjacent to other teeth of the first set of teeth 220 and some teeth of the third set of teeth are immediately adjacent to other teeth of the third set of teeth 240.
• this is not the case with the second set of teeth 230.
• each of the teeth of the second set of teeth 230 are not adjacent to another tooth of the same set of teeth.
• each tooth of the second set of teeth 230 is necessarily spaced apart from a next tooth of the same set such that teeth from another set are interposed therebetween.
• the second set of teeth 230 includes a first tooth 232 and a second tooth 234 that are spaced apart from each other by at least three teeth of the third set of teeth 240.
• each of the first, second and third sets of teeth 220, 230 and 240 includes at least one tooth of another set interposed between at least two teeth of the respective set.
• the third set of teeth 240 includes three teeth interposed between the first tooth 232 and the second tooth 234 of the second set of teeth 230, but also includes a fourth tooth 242 that is disposed outside the region formed between the first tooth 232 and the second tooth 234 of the second set of teeth 230.
• the fourth tooth 242 is disposed proximate to the second tooth 234 of the second set of teeth 230, opposite the side of the second tooth 234 that faces the first tooth 232.
• the first set of teeth 220 includes a remote tooth 222 that is separated from other teeth of the first set of teeth 220 by all of the teeth of each of the second set of teeth 230 and the third set of teeth 240.
• teeth of the first set of teeth 220 may be disposed at longitudinal ends of the array of teeth, and teeth of the second set of teeth 230 and the third set of teeth 240 may be interposed therebetween. Furthermore, teeth of the third set of teeth 240 may be interposed between teeth of the second set of teeth 230. Teeth of the third set of teeth 240 may also extend from the first tooth 232 of the second set of teeth 230 to a point beyond the second tooth 234 of the second set of teeth 230. As can be appreciated from FIGS. 3-6, this arrangement creates a relatively large area of exposure at each of the longitudinal ends of the sidewalls 236 of the first and second teeth 232 and 234 of the second set of teeth 230.
• the depth (D2) of the sidewalls 236, the spacing between the first tooth 232 and the second tooth 234, and the fact that the third set of teeth 240 has a much smaller width (W3) than the width (W2) of the second set of teeth 230 further facilitate exposing the large surface area of the sidewalls 236.
• at least a bite span 250 defined between consecutive teeth that contact the media will be substantially increased. This may allow grip forces to be exerted on the periphery of the media other than effectively at just two points on opposite sides of the media. Instead, the increased bite span 250 may spread out the range over which the media is gripped and thereby allow even side bite situations to result in a good grip on the media without damaging the media. Accordingly, when media is placed in the span 190 at an angle other than about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 106 of the hand tool 100, an improved side bite may be obtained, as shown in FIGS. 7-10.
• FIGS. 7-10 show media 300 (e.g., a pipe or portion thereof) having an axis 310 (or longitudinal centerline) that is not coaxial with the pivot axis 195, and therefore also not at about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 106 of the hand tool 100.
• An angular difference (a) may be defined between the axis 310 of the media and the longitudinal axis.
• the angular difference (a) means that instead of a full length of multiple apexes of the teeth engaging an exterior surface of the media 300, only the opposite end portions of some of the teeth will engage the exterior surface of the media.
• the second set of teeth 230 may improve grip strength so that angular differences (a) of about 30 degrees or more may be effectively tolerated while still enabling good grip strength on the media 300 to enable gripping and/or turning of the media 300 without marring or galling the external surface of the media 300. Furthermore, in some cases, a larger portion of one or both of the sidewalls 236 of the first and second teeth 232 and 234 of the second set of teeth 230 may contact the media 300 due to the increased size of the bite span 250 relative to the very small bite span that otherwise exists between adjacent teeth. At least four contact points spaced apart from each other by at least the bite span 250 may therefore be created and, in some cases, a portion of at least one or more than one of the sidewalls may also contact the outer surface of the media 300.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an adjustable grip pliers with straight jaws
• FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an adjustable grip pliers with a V-shaped recessed portion in the jaws.
• pliers 500 of FIGS. 11 and 12 includes a first member 510 and a second member 520 operably coupled to each other via a tongue-and-groove assembly 525.
• the side bite spanning features described above are implemented in straight jaws 530 and best seen in FIGS. 12A and 12B.
• pliers 600 of FIGS. 13 and 14 includes a first member 610 and a second member 620 operably coupled to each other via a tongue-and-groove assembly 625.
• the side bite spanning features described above are implemented in V-shaped recessed jaws 630 and best seen in FIGS. 14A and 14B.
• example embodiments may define a hand tool with an improved capability for grasping media in a side bite situation.
• the hand tool may include a handle section, a working end operably coupled to the handle section, and a jaw assembly disposed at the working end.
• the jaw assembly may include a movable jaw and a fixed jaw.
• a span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw may be adjustable.
• Each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw may include an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other.
• the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw may include a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth. The first depth may be less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width.
• the hand tool and/or its components may include a number of modifications, augmentations, or optional additions, some of which are described herein.
• the modifications, augmentations or optional additions may be added in any desirable combination.
• the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw further may include a third set of teeth having a third width and the first depth.
• the third width may be less than both the first width and the second width.
• a plurality of teeth of the third set of teeth may be disposed between a first tooth of the second set of teeth and a second tooth of the second set of teeth. In some cases, at least one tooth of the third set of teeth may not be disposed between the first tooth and the second tooth.
• the first set of teeth may include at least one tooth on each end thereof between which all teeth of the first set of teeth and the third set of teeth are disposed.
• an apex of each tooth in the array of teeth may be equidistant from an adjacent apex of each adjacent tooth regardless of whether the adjacent apex is on a tooth of the first, second or third sets of teeth.
• sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the movable jaw have a first slope
• sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the fixed jaw have a second slope
• the first slope and the second slope may be different.
• one of the first slope and the second slope may include a curved surface.
• sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on one of the movable jaw or the fixed jaw may have a first slope away from the apex in a first direction, and a second slope away from the apex in a second direction, and the first slope and the second slope may be different.
• apexes of each tooth of the array of teeth on the fixed jaw lie in a first plane and apexes of each tooth of the array of teeth on the movable jaw lie in a second plane.
• the first and second planes may be substantially parallel to each other over a range of distances defining the span.
• the hand tool may be a pipe wrench. However, if employed in a pliers or other wrench, example embodiments may have two movable jaws and the apexes of the teeth in one or both jaws may not necessarily be in the same plane.

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• 2019
  • 2019-12-20 EP EP19904300.1A patent/EP3883726A4/de active Pending
  • 2019-12-20 AU AU2019417576A patent/AU2019417576B2/en active Active
  • 2019-12-20 US US17/417,275 patent/US11511398B2/en active Active
  • 2019-12-20 WO PCT/US2019/067802 patent/WO2020139749A1/en unknown
  • 2019-12-20 CA CA3153857A patent/CA3153857A1/en active Pending
  • 2019-12-20 CA CA3125322A patent/CA3125322C/en active Active
  • 2019-12-20 CN CN201980086813.8A patent/CN113226651B/zh active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-03-15 AU AU2022201767A patent/AU2022201767A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-10-25 US US17/972,615 patent/US11911880B2/en active Active

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